Self-lubricating trolley shoe



9- w; R. JACKSON 2,158,721

SELF-LUBRICATING TROLLEY SHOE Filed Aug. 4, 1938 Inventor M/Am Pay fickswn Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,158,721 SELF-LUBRICATING TROLLEY SHOE William Roy Jackson, Greenville, S. 0., assignor of fifty per cent to Aiken L. Rikard, Greenville, S. 0.

Application August 4, 1938, Serial No. 223,116

1 Claim.

As the title of the invention implies, the subject matter of the present invention pertains to a structurally novel and improved trolley shoe, that is, a current collector such as is attachable to the upper end of a trolley pole for sliding contact with a trolley wire, and the principal purpose is to provide a new style self-lubricating shoe construction.

Heretofore, due to friction between the trolley shoe and current supply wire, it has been necessary to apply lubricant to the trolley wire by special devices, and this practice requires an expenditure of needless labor and equipment. Thus, the generally utilized and accepted method has proved to be quite unsatisfactory and needlessly expensive. Not only this, in addition to the man utilizing truck service and lubricating equipment, it has been common practice to regroove the shoes as they are now styled and manufactured. Then too, after being in service for a short time the now more-or-less standardized shoes become worn making it necessary to discard the entire shoe. Since these factors contribute to the undesired painstaking and expensive procedure now in vogue, in self-lubricating shoe of the type herein shown and described appears to be the solution for the problem.

Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a channel-shaped fixture head, this being constructed for satisfactory attachment tothe trolley pole, there being longitudinally spaced line wire contacting shoes or blocks mounted therein, said blocks being so arranged as to define between themselves a pocket for reception and retention of a heavy graphite lubricant.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description in the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like details throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing a fragmentary portion of the trolley line or wire and the non-filled self-lubricating shoe constructed in accordance with my idea.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the assemblage seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the renewable shoe-forming blocks.

The aforementioned channel-shaped head forming fixture is denoted by the numeral 5. This is of suitable proportions and metal and includes a central web portion 6 and longitudinal spaced parallel side walls or flanges 1. The inner upper surfaces of these are beveled as at 8 to facilitate connection of the trolley head or shoe structure with the trolley wire 9. In its bottom the fixture is provided with an adapter notch l0 having an undercut abutment or shoulder II at one end and a complemental shoulder at the opposite end terminating in a depending lug l2 having a screwthreaded hole l3 to facilitate attachment of the fixture to the conventional railway car trolley pole (not shown).

The companion shoes per se are in the form of substantially rectangular blocks l4 and these are maintained between the walls of the channel and at opposite ends of the head by way of bolts or equivalent fastenings 15. These shoes are grooved as at IS, the proper convexity being provided to facilitate requisite nicety of contact with the trolley wire. The shoes are duplicates and, therefore, may be described as standardized and interchangeable, whereby to provide the desired renewable feature. Then too, the shoes are bolted in place in spaced relation so as to form a grease reception and containing pocket at IT. This is constantly charged with grease. The lubricant should preferably be a thick mixture of sumciently blended powdered graphite. Common axle grease mixed with graphite has proved to be the most efllcient and economical in experiments to date.

In the arrangement shown the contact blocks or shoes I! are readily removable and replaceable thus materially reducing expense and saving time and labor. This too saves expense of re-grooving shoes in replacement equipment now followed in common practice. By the constant lubrication applied to the trolley wire from the pit or pocket I! an enormous saving in overhead running expenses, labor, wire and shoe replacements will result in the operation and maintenance of trackless trolley systems, inter-urban lines, street cars, electric locomotives and in fact any vehicle which is dependent for motive power from moving contact for the trolley wire.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawing will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

A trolley shoe of the class described comprising a head channel-shaped in cross section including a flat web and side walls, said web and side walls being integrally connected together, flat bottom contact blocks supported in the channel of said head, said blocks having grooved top surfaces for engaging a trolley wire, means for removablyholding the blocks in the channel of said head, said blocks being spaced apart to provide a lubricant containing space therebetween, said space having its bottom wall formed of a part of the web and its side walls formed from portions of the side walls of the head and its end walls formed by the inner ends of the blocks with the top of the space open, the upper surfaces of said blocks being spaced from the top of the head and the inner faces of the side walls of the channel sloping upwardly and outwardly from the upper portions of the blocks.

WILLIAM ROY JACKSON. 

